Matthew Benjamin
@mattbenjamin.bsky.social
Professor, Writer, Social worker
“There are but two parties in America right now: patriots and traitors.” - Ulysses S Grant
Matthewsaks.com
“There are but two parties in America right now: patriots and traitors.” - Ulysses S Grant
Matthewsaks.com
Reposted by Matthew Benjamin
Worse than Kent State, really than any episode I can think of probably dating back to Reconstruc & earlier b/c
1. continuing, not 1 off.
2. organized, not individual ofcrs losing it
3. literally at hand of federal government, which is
4. immediately lying & circling the wagons to prevent inves.
1. continuing, not 1 off.
2. organized, not individual ofcrs losing it
3. literally at hand of federal government, which is
4. immediately lying & circling the wagons to prevent inves.
January 24, 2026 at 10:07 PM
Worse than Kent State, really than any episode I can think of probably dating back to Reconstruc & earlier b/c
1. continuing, not 1 off.
2. organized, not individual ofcrs losing it
3. literally at hand of federal government, which is
4. immediately lying & circling the wagons to prevent inves.
1. continuing, not 1 off.
2. organized, not individual ofcrs losing it
3. literally at hand of federal government, which is
4. immediately lying & circling the wagons to prevent inves.
From the poem “Poet to Bigot,” by Langston Hughes
I, however,
Have such meagre
Power,
Clutching at a
Moment,
While you control
An hour.
But your hour is
A stone.
My moment is
A flower.
I, however,
Have such meagre
Power,
Clutching at a
Moment,
While you control
An hour.
But your hour is
A stone.
My moment is
A flower.
January 25, 2026 at 8:56 AM
From the poem “Poet to Bigot,” by Langston Hughes
I, however,
Have such meagre
Power,
Clutching at a
Moment,
While you control
An hour.
But your hour is
A stone.
My moment is
A flower.
I, however,
Have such meagre
Power,
Clutching at a
Moment,
While you control
An hour.
But your hour is
A stone.
My moment is
A flower.
Reposted by Matthew Benjamin
"They say they're coming to save us from some evil? They're talking about our neighbors who take care of us ... Alex was murdered while he was helping. Mr Rogers said look for the helpers, & right now the helpers have a target on our forehead ... Mr Rogers would be here right now too, so I'm here."
January 24, 2026 at 9:14 PM
"They say they're coming to save us from some evil? They're talking about our neighbors who take care of us ... Alex was murdered while he was helping. Mr Rogers said look for the helpers, & right now the helpers have a target on our forehead ... Mr Rogers would be here right now too, so I'm here."
Reposted by Matthew Benjamin
His name is Alex Jeffrey Pretti. He was 37 years old.
He was a licensed nurse.
He was recording ICE and defending a female protester from their aggression.
And they executed him.
He was a licensed nurse.
He was recording ICE and defending a female protester from their aggression.
And they executed him.
January 24, 2026 at 8:48 PM
His name is Alex Jeffrey Pretti. He was 37 years old.
He was a licensed nurse.
He was recording ICE and defending a female protester from their aggression.
And they executed him.
He was a licensed nurse.
He was recording ICE and defending a female protester from their aggression.
And they executed him.
Reposted by Matthew Benjamin
From this moment forward (and before, but clearly now):
-If you work for ICE.
-If you vote for money for ICE.
You are complicit. This is the gestapo. You're on the wrong side. You can't pretend not to know.
-If you work for ICE.
-If you vote for money for ICE.
You are complicit. This is the gestapo. You're on the wrong side. You can't pretend not to know.
January 24, 2026 at 5:07 PM
From this moment forward (and before, but clearly now):
-If you work for ICE.
-If you vote for money for ICE.
You are complicit. This is the gestapo. You're on the wrong side. You can't pretend not to know.
-If you work for ICE.
-If you vote for money for ICE.
You are complicit. This is the gestapo. You're on the wrong side. You can't pretend not to know.
Reposted by Matthew Benjamin
I am watching what is happening in Minneapolis on Ali Velshi and one of the ICE officers (off camera) literally says, “It’s like Call of Duty. Pretty cool huh?” as they shoot whatever it is they are shooting. Agents walking around, guns unholstered for no reason. This is insanity
January 24, 2026 at 4:45 PM
I am watching what is happening in Minneapolis on Ali Velshi and one of the ICE officers (off camera) literally says, “It’s like Call of Duty. Pretty cool huh?” as they shoot whatever it is they are shooting. Agents walking around, guns unholstered for no reason. This is insanity
How do you just go on with your normal life after watching these videos from Minnesota? You can’t.
January 24, 2026 at 4:49 PM
How do you just go on with your normal life after watching these videos from Minnesota? You can’t.
Reposted by Matthew Benjamin
Minnesota is the best of us.
January 23, 2026 at 10:52 PM
Minnesota is the best of us.
Reposted by Matthew Benjamin
Deporting children with cancer.
Using a 5-year-old as bait.
Shooting moms.
ICE is beyond reform. And today the House is voting to bankroll more terror. Hell no.
Using a 5-year-old as bait.
Shooting moms.
ICE is beyond reform. And today the House is voting to bankroll more terror. Hell no.
January 22, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Deporting children with cancer.
Using a 5-year-old as bait.
Shooting moms.
ICE is beyond reform. And today the House is voting to bankroll more terror. Hell no.
Using a 5-year-old as bait.
Shooting moms.
ICE is beyond reform. And today the House is voting to bankroll more terror. Hell no.
Reposted by Matthew Benjamin
Elections are binary and perfect is never on the ballot.
Your choice was Kamala or not-Kamala.
I don't care what your "reason" was for not voting for Kamala.
You failed, and this is your fault.
Your choice was Kamala or not-Kamala.
I don't care what your "reason" was for not voting for Kamala.
You failed, and this is your fault.
January 21, 2026 at 3:27 PM
Elections are binary and perfect is never on the ballot.
Your choice was Kamala or not-Kamala.
I don't care what your "reason" was for not voting for Kamala.
You failed, and this is your fault.
Your choice was Kamala or not-Kamala.
I don't care what your "reason" was for not voting for Kamala.
You failed, and this is your fault.
Reposted by Matthew Benjamin
state-sponsored child trafficking
This picture making the rounds on reddit, Columbia Heights. I'm not OK.
January 21, 2026 at 11:25 PM
state-sponsored child trafficking
Reposted by Matthew Benjamin
Donald Trump wants to end freedom of speech and make it illegal to criticize him or his regime.
Mischief Toy Store in St. Paul has until Wednesday to turn over employment records to the Department of Homeland Security as part of a surprise audit launched Friday, just hours after one of the shop's owners criticized ICE agents during a television interview. bit.ly/4r5AFol
January 21, 2026 at 3:57 AM
Donald Trump wants to end freedom of speech and make it illegal to criticize him or his regime.
I’m officially coining a new term: “fightiness.” Whereby Democratic Senators say the word “fight” a lot and make lots of noises about “fighting” but take no actual political risks or do anything to actually change the status quo in a significant way.
November 11, 2025 at 4:53 AM
I’m officially coining a new term: “fightiness.” Whereby Democratic Senators say the word “fight” a lot and make lots of noises about “fighting” but take no actual political risks or do anything to actually change the status quo in a significant way.
Reposted by Matthew Benjamin
This is a bad deal, and the old way of doing things is clearly not working.
We need new leaders in the Senate.
We need new leaders in the Senate.
November 10, 2025 at 3:10 AM
This is a bad deal, and the old way of doing things is clearly not working.
We need new leaders in the Senate.
We need new leaders in the Senate.
Reposted by Matthew Benjamin
There really should be a coordinated effort to force Schumer out as Minority Leader as a result of his failure here.
The coordinated nature of this—none are facing voters in 2026—means that either Schumer approved it or failed in his job as Senate Majority Leader to stop it.
Dems voting "no" get zero credit until they demand a change in leadership. Schumer out as Leader, Durbin out as Whip.
Dems voting "no" get zero credit until they demand a change in leadership. Schumer out as Leader, Durbin out as Whip.
so currently defectors are:
Kaine (2030)
Shaheen (Retiring)
Hasan (2028)
Fetterman (2028)
Durbin (Retiring)
CCM (2028)
Rosen (2030)
King (2030)
Kaine (2030)
Shaheen (Retiring)
Hasan (2028)
Fetterman (2028)
Durbin (Retiring)
CCM (2028)
Rosen (2030)
King (2030)
November 10, 2025 at 3:05 AM
There really should be a coordinated effort to force Schumer out as Minority Leader as a result of his failure here.
Reposted by Matthew Benjamin
The original Dem demands were:
1) Permanent ACA subsidies
2) Medicaid funding restored
3) No more blank checks for the regime (rescission)
They dropped Medicaid immediately. Went silent on rescission. Cut back to 1 year of subsidies on Friday. And surrendered today.
The Senate Democrats!
1) Permanent ACA subsidies
2) Medicaid funding restored
3) No more blank checks for the regime (rescission)
They dropped Medicaid immediately. Went silent on rescission. Cut back to 1 year of subsidies on Friday. And surrendered today.
The Senate Democrats!
November 10, 2025 at 2:29 AM
The original Dem demands were:
1) Permanent ACA subsidies
2) Medicaid funding restored
3) No more blank checks for the regime (rescission)
They dropped Medicaid immediately. Went silent on rescission. Cut back to 1 year of subsidies on Friday. And surrendered today.
The Senate Democrats!
1) Permanent ACA subsidies
2) Medicaid funding restored
3) No more blank checks for the regime (rescission)
They dropped Medicaid immediately. Went silent on rescission. Cut back to 1 year of subsidies on Friday. And surrendered today.
The Senate Democrats!
Reposted by Matthew Benjamin
“While there is a lower class, I am in it, and while there is a criminal element I am of it, and while there is a soul in prison, I am not free.” —Eugene V. Debs
November 5, 2025 at 5:11 PM
“While there is a lower class, I am in it, and while there is a criminal element I am of it, and while there is a soul in prison, I am not free.” —Eugene V. Debs
Reposted by Matthew Benjamin
For years, but especially for the past year, Democrats have been in thrall to the idea that they need to chase an imagined median voter, and adopt that voter’s positions. Mamdani’s victory shows another way: hold principles, and persuade people to share them.
I wrote about Zohran’s victory. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Mamdani’s victory is a rebuke to the failed strategies of the Democratic party | Moira Donegan
The Democratic party appears listless and unprincipled, unwilling to fight because they do not believe in anything. Zohran Mamdani is the opposite of this
www.theguardian.com
November 5, 2025 at 6:13 AM
For years, but especially for the past year, Democrats have been in thrall to the idea that they need to chase an imagined median voter, and adopt that voter’s positions. Mamdani’s victory shows another way: hold principles, and persuade people to share them.
“Convention has held us back. We have bowed at the altar of caution and we have paid a mighty price. Too many working people cannot recognize themselves in our party, and too many among us have turned to the right for answers as to why they’ve been left behind.” - ZKM
November 5, 2025 at 5:46 AM
“Convention has held us back. We have bowed at the altar of caution and we have paid a mighty price. Too many working people cannot recognize themselves in our party, and too many among us have turned to the right for answers as to why they’ve been left behind.” - ZKM
Reposted by Matthew Benjamin
We can shut it all down.
Start organizing your communities. We will need to prep with strike funds and mutual aid networks.
#50501Movement #GeneralStrike
Start organizing your communities. We will need to prep with strike funds and mutual aid networks.
#50501Movement #GeneralStrike
October 22, 2025 at 4:32 AM
We can shut it all down.
Start organizing your communities. We will need to prep with strike funds and mutual aid networks.
#50501Movement #GeneralStrike
Start organizing your communities. We will need to prep with strike funds and mutual aid networks.
#50501Movement #GeneralStrike
Time for a #generalstrike. The corporations and oligarchs enabling Trump need to begin to feel it.
October 22, 2025 at 6:07 AM
Time for a #generalstrike. The corporations and oligarchs enabling Trump need to begin to feel it.
Reposted by Matthew Benjamin
“Ain't no justice, it's just us. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust” RIP D’Angelo
October 14, 2025 at 5:17 PM
“Ain't no justice, it's just us. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust” RIP D’Angelo
Reposted by Matthew Benjamin
Elon Musk is a white nationalist. Anyone who needs more data points to reach this conclusion is beyond help or persuasion.
If you buy, rent, service, or supercharge a Tesla you are supporting the most powerful white nationalist on earth. Period.
If you buy, rent, service, or supercharge a Tesla you are supporting the most powerful white nationalist on earth. Period.
Musk is funding the legal battle of UK Far Right activist Tommy Robinson - real name Stephen Yaxley Lennon - as he faces charges brought by counterterrorism police.
Tommy Robinson claims Elon Musk is funding his legal battle — The Times and The Sunday Times
Tommy Robinson has claimed Elon Musk was paying his legal costs as he went on trial for refusing to comply with a request made by counterterrorism police as he tried to leave Britain last year. Robins...
apple.news
October 13, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Elon Musk is a white nationalist. Anyone who needs more data points to reach this conclusion is beyond help or persuasion.
If you buy, rent, service, or supercharge a Tesla you are supporting the most powerful white nationalist on earth. Period.
If you buy, rent, service, or supercharge a Tesla you are supporting the most powerful white nationalist on earth. Period.